The incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury resulting in vocal cord paralysis following interventional congenital catheterisation procedures.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury leading to vocal cord paralysis is a known complication of cardiothoracic surgery. Its occurrence during interventional catheterisation procedures has been documented in case reports, but there have been no studies to determine an incidence. OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence of left recurrent laryngeal nerve injury leading to vocal cord paralysis after left pulmonary artery stenting, patent ductus arteriosus device closure and the combination of the procedures either consecutively or simultaneously. METHODS: Members of the Congenital Cardiovascular Interventional Study Consortium were asked to perform a retrospective analysis to identify cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after the aforementioned procedures. Twelve institutions participated in the analysis. They also contributed the total number of each procedure performed at their respective institutions for statistical purposes. RESULTS: Of the 1337 patients who underwent left pulmonary artery stent placement, six patients (0.45%) had confirmed vocal cord paralysis. 4001 patients underwent patent ductus arteriosus device closure, and two patients (0.05%) developed left vocal cord paralysis. Patients who underwent both left pulmonary artery stent placement and patent ductus arteriosus device closure had the highest incidence of vocal cord paralysis which occurred in 4 of the 26 patients (15.4%). Overall, 92% of affected patients in our study population had resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is a rare complication of left pulmonary artery stent placement or patent ductus arteriosus device closure. However, the incidence is highest in patients undergoing both procedures either consecutively or simultaneously. Additional research is necessary to determine contributing factors that might reduce the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.

Transcarotid balloon valvuloplasty in neonates and small infants with critical aortic valve stenosis utilizing continuous transesophageal echocardiographic guidance: A 22 year single center experience from the cath lab to the bedside.

OBJECTIVE: Utilization of continuous transesophageal echocardiographic guidance (cTEE) during transcarotid balloon valvuloplasty (TCBV) in neonates and small infants with critical aortic valve stenosis (AS) allows for continuous hemodynamic assessment and improved outcomes. BACKGROUND: Preferred method of intervention for critical AS remains controversial due to conflicting results. METHODS: Since 1992, 30 neonates and small infants with critical AS and adequate left ventricular (LV) volumes underwent TCBV with cTEE. Critical AS was defined as ductal dependent systemic circulation, LV systolic dysfunction, or an echo gradient≥100 mm Hg with evidence of hypoperfusion. RESULTS: The median age at intervention was 4 days (range 1-54 days). Nineteen (63%) patients required PGE1 and 25 (85%) had LV dysfunction. All procedures were performed with cTEE guidance. The initial 15 patients were performed in the cath lab whereas the subsequent 15 patients were performed at the bedside without fluoroscopy. The peak systolic gradient decreased from 70 to 24 mm Hg (P<0.001). Four (13%) early deaths were secondary to associated cardiac anomalies although one patient developed severe aortic valve insufficiency (AI) immediately post intervention. At discharge, two patients (8%) had ≥moderate AI. At a mean follow-up of 9 years (range: 2.2-20 years), there were 15 additional aortic valve interventions. Freedom from aortic valve reintervention at 10 years was 55% and actuarial survival rate at 10 and 15 years was 82%. CONCLUSION: Bedsides TCBV with cTEE guidance is effective palliation for neonates and small infants with critical AS and allows for continuous hemodynamic assessment without the use of ionizing radiation. Our early and late results appear comparable to surgical valvotomy.

Transcatheter occlusion of an azygous vein aneurysm.

We describe the use of multiple Amplatzer vascular plugs which were intentionally placed so as to isolate a large azygous vein aneurysm with intraluminal thrombosis, which had resulted in a previous pulmonary embolus. This technique avoided the need for an invasive thoracotomy and aneurysm resection or attempting to directly fill the large aneurysm with numerous and various embolization devices.

Device closure of patent ductus arteriosus in Marfan patients: safety and effect on the aortic root diameter.

OBJECTIVES: There is little evidence in the medical literature about safety of PDA device closure and its effects on aortic root diameter in Marfan patients. We reported on nine Marfan patients whose ducts were occluded by coil or Amplatzer Duct Occluder. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Two patients had aneurismal type E ducts which were closed by a single coil, respectively. The others had conical ducts for which even Amplatzer occluder, stiff, or double coils were used. RESULTS: No untoward consequence was found during a median follow up period of 18.5 months (range 3 months to 6.33 years). Two patients had small residual shunts. The observed change in the mean ratio of aortic root diameter to its estimated value was statistically insignificant in seven patients who had complete data on their aortic root diameter before PDA closure and during the follow up. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that PDA device closure in Marfan patients is safe. Risk of residual shunt is higher even after closure of small ducts.

Resolution of heart block after surgical removal of an amplatzer device.

A large secundum atrial septal defect in a 4-year-old child was closed by percutaneous placement of an Amplatzer septal occluder (AGA Medical Corporation, Plymouth, MN). After device placement, complete heart block developed that did not resolve after 3 days of medical management. The patient subsequently underwent surgical removal of the device and suture closure of the atrial septal defect. The patient recovered conduction after the operation. We report the successful treatment of device-induced heart block with surgical removal of the device.

Endovascular stenting for native coarctation of the aorta is an effective alternative to surgical intervention in older children.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the early and intermediate results with respect to blood pressure control in older children undergoing endovascular stenting for native coarctation of the aorta. DESIGN: Eleven hypertensive patients (10 +/- 3 years of age) underwent endovascular stenting via standard techniques for native coarctation of the aorta as an alternative to surgical repair. Resting and exercise assessment of blood pressure control with Doppler echocardiography was performed pre- and poststenting. RESULTS: All 11 patients underwent successful stenting without complications and were able to be weaned off antihypertensive medications within a short period of time. At latest follow-up (34 +/- 26 months), all patients are normotensive at rest and during treadmill exercise stress testing. Two patients underwent uncomplicated additional stent dilation at follow-up cardiac catheterization. CONCLUSION: Endovascular stenting for native coarctation of the aorta in older children is a reasonable alternative to surgical correction. During early follow-up, stenting effectively alleviates the aortic arch obstruction with normalization of the systemic blood pressure both at rest and during maximal exercise.

Quantitative assessment of pulmonary insufficiency by Doppler echocardiography in patients with adult congenital heart disease.

We determined the utility of continuous wave (CW) Doppler for quantification of pulmonary insufficiency (PI) confirmed by pulmonary angiography in patients with postoperative adult congenital heart disease. A total of 41 patients with PI were divided into two groups on the basis of PI severity by pulmonary angiography: group A (n = 27) with severe PI and group B (n = 14) with mild or moderate PI. Nine patients in group A had pulmonic valve replacement and reverted to mild PI after surgery. Their pre- and postoperative data were compared. All underwent a two-dimensional/Doppler study with interrogation of the PI jet for jet width by color Doppler and peak flow velocity, deceleration time (DT), pressure half-time (PHT), diastolic period (DP), and PI flow time (FT) by CW Doppler. The no-flow time (NFT), NFT/FT ratio, and NFT/DP fraction were calculated. Group A had a larger right ventricle (4.1 +/- 0.9 vs. 3.5 +/- 0.6 cm, P = .033), higher PI peak velocity (2.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.5 m/s, P = .04), shorter DT (261 +/- 61 vs. 317 +/- 83 ms, P = .018) and PHT (76 +/- 29 vs. 132 +/- 53, P < .0001), longer NFT (146 +/- 66 vs. 40 +/- 42 ms, P < .0001), and higher ratios of NFT/FT (46% +/- 27% vs. 13% +/- 14%, P < .0001) and NFT/DP (29% +/- 13% vs. 10% +/- 9%, P < .0001). The PHT and DT lengthened, and the NFT shortened in patients who underwent pulmonic valve replacement (all P < .05). By binary logistic regression, NFT and PHT were the best predictors for severe PI. An NFT of 80 ms had 84% sensitivity and 93% specificity, and a PHT of 100 ms had 93% sensitivity and 93% specificity for identifying angiographically severe PI. CW Doppler accurately distinguishes severe from lesser degrees of PI in patients with postoperative adult congenital heart disease.

Catheter management of aortic valve stenosis in neonates and children.

Therapy for severe aortic valve stenosis in infants and children has shifted from the operating suite to the catheterization laboratory and even to the bedside as a direct result of improved catheter technology, evolving techniques, and comparable results to conventional surgical intervention. This review summarizes the brief history pertaining to the various techniques and outcomes of transcatheter balloon valvuloplasty in infants and children with critical or severe aortic valve stenosis.

An experience suggesting an expanded role for the excimer laser catheter in neonates with obstructive lesions in the heart.

I have previously reported the successful use of the 0.9 millimetre excimer laser catheter in 2 neonates with pulmonary valvar atresia and intact ventricular septum. In this report, I describe the expanded role of the excimer laser in a premature infant weighing 1.8 kilograms who presented with an occluded right pulmonary artery secondary to an organized thrombus. Successful reconstruction of the right pulmonary artery was performed by sequential use of lasers of 0.9, 1.4, and 2 millimetres diameter, followed by conventional balloon angioplasty. As is now the situation in adults, laser catheter intervention should now be an integral part of the armamentarium of the paediatric cardiac interventionalist.

Initial and late results after catheter intervention for neonatal critical pulmonary valve stenosis and atresia with intact ventricular septum: a technique in continual evolution.

Critical pulmonary valve stenosis or atresia with intact ventricular septum is a rare congenital cardiac defect that can be technically difficult to alleviate in the catheterization laboratory. Over the past 10 years, several techniques and modifications with variable results have been advocated to facilitate the valvuloplasty procedure. This report describes a single operator's experience using various techniques in 28 neonates with critical pulmonary stenosis or atresia who were considered candidates for transcatheter intervention. The first two patients underwent a gradational balloon valvuloplasty approach that resulted in prolonged fluoroscopy exposure. Thereafter, a "snare assisted" umbilical artery approach was developed which facilitated the valvuloplasty procedure and resulted in significantly fewer balloons used and shorter fluoroscopy times. Early in our experience, stiff guidewire perforation of atretic pulmonary valves was used, whereas in our last two patients, a simplified perforation technique with a new 0.9-mm excimer laser catheter was used. Late echocardiographic and clinical follow-up evaluation in 27 patients demonstrates persistent gradient relief, resolution of tricuspid valve insufficiency, and elimination of right to left shunting at the atrial level. Balloon valvuloplasty is the treatment of choice for critical pulmonary valve stenosis or atresia with intact ventricular septum. When necessary, the use of umbilical artery "snare assistance" facilitates the valvuloplasty technique and shortens procedure time while laser perforation is currently preferable for perforation of the atretic pulmonary valve.